10 great reasons to back Labour this election

There are so many reasons to vote for Jacinda and for Labour this election – and with our momentum building, we’re hoping that many of you will!

Just in case you’re still on the fence though, or you’ve got friends and whānau who are wondering about Labour's policies and our vision for New Zealand, here’s a countdown of the top ten reasons to back us this election:

10. We’ll make sure New Zealand has world-class transport.

We’re going to get our cities and regions moving! That includes building light rail from central Auckland to the airport; creating a passenger rail service linking Auckland, Hamilton, and Tauranga; investing in public transport for Christchurch; and investing in regional roads and rail. Read our plans here.

9. We’ll clean up our rivers.

At our campaign launch, one of Jacinda’s promises to the audience was that Labour will clean up New Zealand’s rivers. It’s a promise we take seriously, because we know water is one of our most important natural treasures. Read how we'll do it here.

8. We’ll back Kiwi families.

With Labour, over 70% of Kiwi families will be better off, and because we know how important our kids’ start to life is, we’ll extend paid parental leave from 18 to 26 weeks and introduce a Best Start payment to help families with costs in a child’s early years. New Zealanders receiving super or a main benefit will also receive a Winter Energy Payment to help them heat their homes in winter. Read our Families Package here.

7. We’ve got a comprehensive plan to tackle the housing crisis.

Young New Zealanders and first home buyers are giving up on the idea of ever owning their own home, but it doesn’t have to be like this. We’ll close down the tax loopholes for speculators, and we’ll ban overseas speculators who are pushing house prices out of reach. We’ll also build 100,000 affordable homes for first home buyers over ten years. Read the full plan here.

6. We’ll make sure New Zealanders get the healthcare they need, when they need it.

We’re going to reverse National’s health cuts so our hospitals and health workers have the resources they need. We’ll also be able to invest in mental health services, more affordable GP visits, more operations, and the latest medicines. That’s because we get how important it is for Kiwis to know that they and their loved ones will get the care and support they need, when they really need it. Read more in our fiscal plan here.

5. We’ll fix the mental health crisis, and look after our people.

Right now, lots of people around New Zealand are doing it tough. That’s why with Labour, our mental health system will be a real priority. In our first 100 days, we’ll hold a review of mental health services to identify gaps in services. We’ve also committed to increasing frontline mental health resources, and making sure our kids have access to comprehensive youth health services at school. Read the full plan here.

4. We’ll bring back free education.

We know how important it is that all our kids get a first-class education, no matter where they live or how much money their parents have. That’s why we’ll make education genuinely free by offering an extra $150 per student to state and state-integrated schools that don’t ask parents for donations. We’ll also put more money into our schools and early education centres - and here’s a game-changer: we’ll offer Kiwis three years of free post-school education or training. Read the full plan here.

3. We’ve got a responsible plan to pay for it all.

All of our policies have been properly costed, and we’re committed to following a set of budget responsibility rules when we’re in Government. Read our fiscal plan here.

2. We’ve got a strong leader who’s ready to be Prime Minister.

In Jacinda’s nine years as an MP, she’s championed children and fought against the poverty many of our kids face. She’s also developed policy to make life easier for our small businesses. Since she became leader, Jacinda has shown she’s got the strength and the smarts to lead New Zealand - including standing up for us when the Australian Foreign Minister had a go at her. (Plus it doesn’t hurt that she’s had a glowing endorsement from Helen Clark!)

And finally...

1. Because we'll back you, too.

This election is a real opportunity for us to build a better, fairer future for New Zealand, all together. A vote for Jacinda and Labour is a vote for our hospitals and our schools. It’s a vote for our environment, and for an economy that works for all of us. It’s a vote for cleaner rivers, better transport, homes for all, and for our towns and our cities. Are you with us? Let us know here, and #LetsDoThis!